Montana State University (MSU) Library in Bozeman Montana State University - Home Montana State University Libraries - Home
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   ScholarWorks Home
    • Scholarship & Research
    • Publications by Colleges and Departments (MSU- Bozeman)
    • College of Business
    • Scholarly Work - Business
    • View Item
    •   ScholarWorks Home
    • Scholarship & Research
    • Publications by Colleges and Departments (MSU- Bozeman)
    • College of Business
    • Scholarly Work - Business
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Operational efficiency, patient composition and regional context of U.S. health centers: Associations with access to early prenatal care and low birth weight

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Operational efficiency, patient composition and regional context of U.S. health centers: Associations with access to early prenatal care and low birth weight (PDF) (680.0Kb)
    Date
    2019-04
    Author
    Thorsen, Maggie L.
    Thorsen, Andreas H.
    McGarvey, Ronald G.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Community health centers (CHCs) provide comprehensive medical services to medically under-served Americans, helping to reduce health disparities. This study aimed to identify the unique compositions and contexts of CHCs to better understand variation in access to early prenatal care and rates of low birth weights (LBW). Data include CHC-level data from the Uniform Data System, and regional-level data from the US Census American Community Survey and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. First, latent class analysis was conducted to identify unobserved subgroups of CHCs. Second, data envelopment analysis was performed to evaluate the operational efficiency of CHCs. Third, we used generalized linear models to examine the associations between the CHC subgroups, efficiency, and perinatal outcomes. Seven classes of CHCs were identified, including two rural classes, one suburban, one with large centers serving poor minorities in low poverty areas, and three urban classes. Many of these classes were characterized by the racial compositions of their patients. Findings indicate that CHCs serving white patients in rural areas have greater access to early prenatal care. Health centers with greater efficiency have lower rates of LBW, as do those who serve largely white patient populations in rural areas. CHCs serving poor racial minorities living in low-poverty areas had particularly low levels of access to early prenatal care and high rates of LBW. Findings highlight that significant diversity exists in the sociodemographic composition and regional context of US health centers, in ways that are associated with their operations, delivery of care, and health outcomes. Results from this study highlight that while the provision of early prenatal care and the efficiency with which a health center operates may improve the health of the women served by CHCs and their babies, the underlying social and economic conditions facing patients ultimately have a larger association with their health.
    URI
    https://scholarworks.montana.edu/xmlui/handle/1/15475
    DOI
    10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.02.043
    Citation
    Thorsen, Maggie L., Andreas H. Thorsen, and Ronald G. McGarvey. "Operational efficiency, patient composition and regional context of U.S. health centers: Associations with access to early prenatal care and low birth weight." Social Science & Medicine 226 (April 2019): 143-152. DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.02.043.
    Collections
    • Scholarly Work - Business
    • Scholarly Work - Sociology and Anthropology

    MSU uses DSpace software, copyright © 2002-2013  Duraspace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
     

     

    Browse

    All of ScholarWorksCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesDepartmentsItem TypeThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesDepartmentsItem Type

    My Account

    Login

    Guidelines & Policies

    AllFor authorsWhy to submitHow to submit

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    MSU uses DSpace software, copyright © 2002-2013  Duraspace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback